I Am Waiting...

So, the first interview went really, really well.

I was there for an hour, talking to the person who would become my boss. It's a lovely little office. If I worked there, I would be the fourth person in there. And as I learned a little bit about them, I cold see that the things that I did at my old job would be very handy at this job. I think that they could really use me there.

At the end of the interview, the interviewee asked if I would be okay with taking a call from their New York Human Resources person. I said that would be fine and left the office feeling pretty good.

I got home and had time to get out of my business suit and relax a little bit. An hour later, as I was chatting with Joe about how the interview went, the HR person called me.

This second interview was not the smashing success that the first one was. This New York person was not impressed by me and my efforts to be charming and engaged in the conversation could not penetrate her hard, "I am not impressed by anything" demeanor. More than my skill sets, she wanted to know about my past work experiences and grilled me on why I wasn't at my last job anymore. And that's a complicated story. So, that took a little bit of time. She kept me talking with a series of uninvolved "uh huhs" and "okays". I felt like a poorly prepared stand-up comedian performing for a hostile room or one audience member.

So, I did my best. And kept the pressure I was feeling from creeping into my voice and answered everything that she wanted to know, without elaborating beyond the questions that she was asking.

Afterwards, I called my temp agency and touched base with them. My agent was very encouraged by the fact that they'd pursued it to the next level with me. She said that of all of the candidates that they'd sent to this office, I was the only one who had gotten that far. And that she thought it was a very good sign and that an offer might be on the way. She asked me if I was interested in the job (I am) and if I was okay leaving my recent long-term assignment with another non-profit for something else (I am) and would I be ready to accept the offer, if and when it came (I am). I left that conversation feeling buoyed up by her enthusiasm.

That was 3:00pm yesterday.

I heard nothing after that.

And I've heard nothing at all, this morning.

I've got to wonder if this means that they're now doing their own background checks on me. Or if something I said to "New York HR person" made me an unattractive prospect. Or if some other amazing candidate came along and nailed the job interview.

I've called my agency this morning and left a message with my rep, asking if they'd heard anything. I kept the disappointment out of my voice and sounded up beat and curious. I don't want to tip my hat that I'm secretly worrying about the lack of contact.

Merrily We Roll Along...
Mr.B